SO...Conklin has this cush gig where he travels to Northeastern PA every week to “teach classes” for a school out that way. These were the pictures from his trip this past week…when he’s NOT catching massive amounts of smallies…

His Room for the night...

Frost on his "tools"...20 degree mornings still in the hills there...

His "Office" for the day...

A Player...

And Another...

Secret Weapon...

7 total fish. 6 took nymphs...one up top later in the afternoon. Eastern PA. The trout fishing thus far seems to be spectacular this year in PA. Some solid reports from opening weekend henny hatches, with good amounts of both stocked and native fish...

Hopefully we'll have some time in the next month to get a trip in out that way. Till then we maybe counting on day trips and bass...

Another week...no flies tied, and only one day of fishing had which was spent mostly chasing my two little cousins...and of course no fish had....

Steelhead rivers were quiet as well. Water is super low, making the chances of finding fresh, un-molested fish virtually impossible.

Schmidt gave a few rivers up in Michigan some casts later on in the week, but reported many of the same issues. Low water, and an early run of steel earlier in the spring means there's few fish in the waters up there now...

Looks like the end may finally be upon us...

NOW FOR THE BREAKING NEWS...

There'll be a important post coming up before Friday this week...

Explains some of my lack of posts, and gives you a bit of insight into life here at TMT...

Monday, April 19, 2010

"In this week's news release, the Jackson County Tourism Authority announced that in the first 12 months of trail's existence, they had distributed 14,000 trail maps and received more than 21,000 visits to its website, www.FlyFishingTrail.com."

Full Press Release...

Anglers Hooked on the Nation’s Only Fly Fishing Trail

SYLVA, N.C. - Fly anglers can visit a lot of places in the United States, but there’s only one place they can go to fish a designated fly fishing trail.

The Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail in Jackson County, N.C., is in its second year of providing 15 prime spots to catch trout in the Great Smoky Mountains. The trail offers everything from wide rivers to medium-sized creeks to small streams. It’s been a hit with experts and beginners alike, drawing anglers and media attention from across the nation.

The trail was launched in late February 2009 by the Jackson County Tourism Authority. In the first 12 months, the authority distributed 14,000 trail maps and received more than 21,000 visits to its website, www.FlyFishingTrail.com.

“Nothing like it exists anywhere else in the United States,” says Julie Spiro, director of the Jackson County Tourism Authority. “I think the trail has been popular because we’re in a nice, scenic location, and people want to come here to fish and enjoy a relaxing getaway.”

For years the trout-rich waters of Jackson County have beckoned fly fishermen, but there wasn’t a cohesive program that tied together fishing, lodging, dining and things to do in the area. The creation of the WNC Fly Fishing Trail has changed that.

“Now when fishing enthusiasts call or stop by, we have a map to put in their hands. It guides them to the best public-access waters in the county, and has information on lodging and other activities,” Spiro says. “It’s a complete package now. It wasn’t thought of that way before.”

The trail’s creation was a team effort that included avid fly fisherman Bobby Kilby of Pawley’s Island, S.C., fishing guide Alex Bell of Sylva, and Spiro. Kilby is a native of Western North Carolina who has caught trout in more than 1,060 streams in North Carolina. His detailed fishing journal has been used by biologists with the N.C. Wildlife Commission. Bell is a retired high school principal who operates A.B.’s Fly Fishing Guide Service in Jackson County.

“I’ve been real pleased with the response to the trail,” Bell says. “When you consider the condition of the economy and everything else going on, it was great to see the number of inquiries and people who showed up to take advantage of the fly fishing trail.”

The main idea for the trail is to direct anglers to the numerous fishing options that exist on public lands in Jackson County. The trail is anchored by the Tuckasegee River, with five of the 15 fishing spots located on that river.

The delayed harvest section of the “Tuck” provides open spaces and well-stocked catch and release waters that can be fished year-round. New this year is the Raven Fork trophy water on the Cherokee Indian Reservation, which can also be fished 12 months a year. The Raven Fork is regularly stocked with huge trout, many exceeding 20 inches and a good number of 30-inch trout.

However, serious fly anglers tend to gravitate toward the smaller, lesser-known spots. One example is Panthertown Creek in Panthertown Valley, a high mountain valley known as the “Yosemite of the East.” A two-mile hike is required to access Panthertown Creek.

Other spots for the serious anglers include the wild trout waters of the Chattooga River, Whitewater River and Tanasee Creek.

“With 15 spots, the trail covers something for everyone. We’ve got the bigger waters for people who enjoy that, and we’ve also got the small waters and the medium-sized waters,” says Bell. “We’ve got some you have to hike a couple of miles to get to, and some where you park and go right down the bank and into the water. People like that aspect.

“I have spoken to Trout Unlimited chapters and FFF groups. A lot of times, those folks have fished the smaller waters on their own. They’re very appreciative of having places marked on a map so they don’t go in totally blind without any idea where to start.”

Free, water-resistant maps of the trail are available to anglers as long as they take the trail pledge: “As a true sportsman, I pledge never to litter and to avoid trespassing on private lands. I will respect the rights of property owners, and always leave the streams in better condition than I found them.”

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission annually stocks the waterways in Jackson County with nearly 100,000 trout, so the future looks bright for the WNC Fly Fishing Trail. Bell predicts the trail will become a true destination for fly anglers across the country. If so, that would make it a positive story in tough economic times.

“It has exceeded my expectations. We haven’t ever had any one thing or event that’s been as well received as the trail,” says Spiro. “We’ve booked large groups of overnight guests this year that are a direct result of the trail. I’d say every third call we receive at the visitor center is about fly fishing. It’s a very exciting time for Jackson County.”

Fishing actually wasn't the best in reality. There is a lack of water in the rivers, so there's no real pushes of fresh fish. Egg patterns, and some white streamers were taking fish...but nothing to write home about. Question now is when will the fish stop...

First week of May typically marks the last decent push of fish…so we shall see…

Some lower temps kept me off the bass ponds also. Things this week should be picking up…we shall see…

As you can tell from Conklin’s Quarry, the lake run smallies (Giants as some may call them), have started their annual accent up the rivers here in Lake Erie. We’ll be exploring that avenue this weekend so hopefully we can report back on those outcomes as well!

Friday, April 16, 2010

For reasons to be disclosed later…I’ve elected not to attend the PA opener this year (tomorrow). I’ve done it the last two years with minimal success each year, but I think those outings were more due to factors out of my control…at least that’s what I tell myself now to battle the emotion of not attending…

It brings about a question…why go? What’s the point? It’s ruthless fishing. It’s the bucket brigade chasing after their limits, and stuffing their coolers until every last fish is out of every bridge hole along the main highway…

Its mob scenes on your favorite stretches, and IF you’re lucky to find some bugs popping, their usually not convincing trout to rise. Mepps spinners litter the creek side trees, and every single worm container brought to the stream usually ends up staying for the summer…

Yeah…I can be a bit bitter about it…and a bit discouraged by the lack of decency I see in people, and by the early season fishing…typically you find yourself getting crowded by some horse’s ass who thinks for every one trout you land, he can take 12 more. Turning your back to your honey hole for one minute to take a piss can lead to 3 guys fishing shoulder to shoulder when you return…

But why…why do I feel this pit in my stomach…feeling like I’m missing something this year?

Perhaps it’s all the years spent in Connecticut as a child…waiting anxiously every winter for the day that I could get up with my father to bring in the first fish of the year. The bickering between my brother and I at 4:30 on those mornings was brutal…

“First fish is mine…”

“NO…You got it last year…” Each of us pretending to remember…

Once my brother stopped going, it was Dad and I…early mornings…bringing in stockers…trolling the ledges and stocking locations…just to hold them and then put them back…

In all of those years, I don’t think that my father ever brought in a fish on opening day. It was about us kids…and then me…giving me a life long passion…anticipation…love for the water…

For 16 years, I went every single opening day...with dad…sometimes giving up Easters…family parties…it was like a tradition, and for someone who carries the weight of traditions on, it meant the world…

Coming back to my first opener 3 years ago in PA, I remember the anticipation swelling back up in me…like it was making up for all of the years I had missed openers. It was emotional on several accounts…Me and Finn making our way 5 hours into North Central Pennsylvania…to sleep on the ground. Knowing you were on a river just filled with fish to go along with all of their native relatives…

I guess as I miss another opener, I shouldn’t freak out. It’s sometimes awful fishing…with assholes who crowd you…and with lord knows how much more lead going into our streams, wrappers on the banks, and just complete disrespect at times for the natural world…

I feel a tremendous amount of comfort in knowing that this won’t be my last opener…and there will be others…and I can find more comfort in knowing that my father has given me the ability to be 5 years old on those days for as long as I live…the early mornings…the smell of coffee…the anticipation of the first fish…and the joy of knowing that it’s another beginning…

Good luck to all who carry the spirit of fishing, and hope to pass it along...

A story/report from a gentleman who has been one of the bigger influences in my fly fishing quest…

"A perfect day – a beautiful day, a day we all long for. Absolutely ideal conditions for….just about anything that does not require an umbrella. I was drawn to where Elk creek meets Lake Erie and was amazed at the bounty. Just beautiful aesthetics. I walked North from the access area off Rt. 5 and that alone was spectacular. Up until now I have only ventured upstream, or South from the ramp in search of steel. This time was different however. This time I was in search of the great and wily smallmouth bass. It was April 14, early in their anticipated run. Too early? I would soon find out. I chose the East bank of the creek as my path to the lake. There was a well worn trail from the legions of steelhead fisherman who have trekked to the lake over the past 8 months. Today, they were gone. It is late in the steel season and while there are still trout in the creeks many have made their way back to the depths of Lake Erie to heal and convalesce from the rigors of the spawning event. As I moved along the absence of other fisherman was conspicuous. Maybe they know something. Maybe there are no fish to catch today? Possibly others, more knowledgeable others have treaded this way and discovered that it is too late for steel and too early for bass. Never mind. I aim to find out for myself. As I reached a large sandbar that serves as slight break between an estuary and the main stem of the river I realized the water was absolutely perfect. It was rich in shades of green depending on depth and the clarity was superb. The water met a blue spring sky that created a contrasting palette of colors that made one appreciate what nature had provided. A glance North out to the Great Lake further cemented the magnificence of the colors and created multiple hues of blue/green. More than once as I slowly stripped in the fly over the next 3 hours I found myself slack jawed at the surrounding beauty. The sound of the wind blown waves lapping on the sandy beach where I stood ankle deep in water, the squawking of the Canada Geese as they flirted with each other and carved out their territory, the play of the ducks – some I could identify and others not as they zoomed up and down the water corridor, the few wispy clouds high in the azure sky whipped along as telltale markers of an impending weather change – all of this made for captivating scenery which would have made even a fishless day a success. Even the few carcasses of creatures that lay in the sand and rocks and had met their demise were fascinating.

I began casting with a bleeding minnow pattern, working the water depths and trying to strip through anything that looked like it might hold fish. This proved fruitless for the first 30 minutes. A short while longer and the smallmouth changed their mind and 4 fish came to hand after a tussle with 6 of them. As I reflected on my quarry I recalled Bob Clouser. He had designed the Clouser minnow for these very fish in the larger rivers of PA. It was an aha’ moment. Suddenly I realized that this was the perfect fly to tie on to my 6# tippet. First cast – fish on!! It was a handsome 16 inch smallie who gave a noble fight worthy of the many reflections that these fish have inspired in other’s writing. A few minutes later he was in hand. After a picture or two I gave him a quick release back into the watery emerald depths. Next cast, another chunky smallmouth. About the same size and just as mad at the hook in his mouth. This game continued for quite a while with similar fish. The big fish of the trip was a 17.5 inch bass that put a fine bend in Mr. Sage. He was matched later with another 17 inch plus bass that increased my blood pressure substantially. 6 Fish came to the bank with the Clouser and then it seemed time to try yet another classic in the smallmouth arsenal: the crayfish. I had tied a handful of this last winter when the rivers were frozen, the snow was deep, and I needed a brief mind trip to somewhere warm. I stashed them in my vest long ago and now was the time to see if they had any mojo for these pre spawn bass. First cast and nothing…oh well. Second cast and game on! This fine fish took on the far side of the channel so I had a nice battle on my hand as I tried to work him to my side while keeping him free of any woody snags on the river. He bulldogged down to the bottom several times and punctuated the fight with numerous jumps and flips into the sunlight. It was a great fight and one that would be repeated on 14 occasions that afternoon. Out of 14 crayfish inspired skirmishes, 10 fish found their way into my hands for our moment of mutual admiration. I had been handsomely rewarded for avoiding the few remaining steel in the rivers and opting for the less certain game. This bet was a gamble but had huge returns if the conditions were right. Apparently they were as this trip was memory making."

BASS THUMB!

Special thanks to Tom for the story and pictures...

If you also have stories, pictures, or reports to share, we'd love to feature them also.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Well another week in the books…And I’ve yet to tie into a steelhead in 2010…not that I really tried this week…

Crowds kept me away, but we had some solid reports of fish taking nymphs and eggs. Also, some talk recently of some lake run smallies climbing into the system…

Regardless, we took the opportunity to jump into the canoe and kayak to find some early season bass. Nothing up top is producing yet, but an olive bugger was my ticket this week. Conklin produced some VERY nice fish (3-4lb range), with a orange streamer…

"Thousands of sportsmen and women across the country are expected to showcase their skills in baitcasting, air rifle and archery competitions. (Competitors must bring their own archery and baitcasting equipment). Spectators and participants at the events will also be able to sign up to win great prizes, including Rocky Boots, given away at each store, and a trip for two to Big Cedar Lodge."

Sunday, April 4, 2010

80 degree temps have littered the last week, bring us into the spring fishing mode…

The week saw some early precipitation…and brought the rivers into prime shape for Thursday. This time, the high rivers showed their true fertility…bringing us fresher fish. The rivers were loaded, and the people moved in…en masse…

Eggs were the ticket for numbers…but throwing meaty streamers were bringing in the fresher fish…

With Good Friday off (along with the rest of the God-fearing world)…the question of where to fish with my time off started early in the week. Being the one who didn’t feel like dealing with the douchebag snaggers for fear of what I might say or do, I decided to introduce my little cousin to some PA trout for the day. Being a new fly flinger at age 9, this is, at least in my humble opinion, a big rite of passage…

So Friday AM we were up…made the trek in 2.5 hours…him zonked out…me and the iPod jamming out, not sure what to expect from him and a full day of fishing. Within 10 minutes, we were re-rigging him, which wasn’t a huge surprise. The back casts tend to flow awfully close to the ground, which means anything that is more then 6” off the ground tends to be an obstruction…but he was managing with about 25’ of line…

After the first few casts, it was becoming apparent that the egg/nymph set-up was getting a decent drag towards the end of each cast, so on the re-rig, we gave him a nice schlapin bugger as the dropper..

Sure as shit…within 15 minutes he was asking me if he should strip in the fish, or get him onto the reel…

Now this creates a little issue. We go to X stream, and within 30 minutes, the 9 year old lands a fish. There’s now an expectation that this is how it should work. After another 15 minutes, it was suggested that perhaps all of the fish weren’t biting in this hole…so we should move. So we do…but with the rivers becoming more and more crowded, finding decent real estate that a child can wade to safely that wasn’t already being fished was tough.

Long story short, we fished all day with only one fish to show for our efforts. A little disappointing, but watching the first trout landed in his short fly fishing life was priceless. Long list of reasons why, but I’m sure as anyone who’s been fishing with children knows, it happens. We did better then some, worse then others…but a fish is a fish…

The great news was that the caddis have finally come out to play for the summer! Which means that we may be making another impromptu trip back in the coming weeks…perhaps before the opener…

On Saturday Amy and I decided to go for a canoe ride. Despite many canoe trips together, since we got the boat, she’s never been in it, and I kinda wanted to go explore some of the local bass waters for the year…

Of course we’re all into it…so we ignore the high wind warning and go anyways…and bring Finn to ensure that it was a higher risk venture. We paddled, explored, and did a little fishing, but with the front/wind blowing it, it was a short casting session. I did manage to get my first gill of the year on a dry, so I was happy with that. Finn fared well also, with his only faux pas being the licking of lake water over the gunwales…

Overall a great weekend to get us back into the summer time. We’re anxious to get the move on with regular hatches, and surface hungry bass…

I know these are supposed to be steelhead reports, and I kind of have to admit that I do miss swinging for them…but I just feel that I’d rather spend my fishing time taking long casts to feeding fish quietly and without anyone around. The rivers have been swamped with people…even to the point where guides are having a hard time finding water to put clients on…so we’ll just continue to quest for fish quietly and reporting back on wherever that may take us…